Peaceful Living

Has anyone else struggled with boundaries? Boundaries tell others where your space begins and ends. Like an emotional fence to keep the bad out and the good in. I’m talking about what someone can and cannot do/say/expect/demand without your permission.

When someone presumes it is ok to do/say/expect/demand what THEY think you would not mind, that’s stepping over a boundary.

God does want us to have good boundaries because essentially, they help us to have good relationships. The sin, I believe, is when we don’t speak up to kindly reset those boundaries, but instead, we get upset and direct the anger internally. But speaking in anger is not good either. I guess speaking up for our property lines in a kind, but firm way takes some prayer and practice.

So, if we don’t speak up our anger is forced inward, and anger is not kind to our innermost parts. The Word teaches us to care for our bodies because they are a temple.

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19,20

Post navigation

3 thoughts on “Peaceful Living”

Good article. I know you did not say this-just commenting-
I don’t think God says we never are to get angry, Hebrews 12:14 ;but maybe we should choose our battles.
Sometimes it is better to reset boundaries by deciding the issue is not worth the battle. Because a battle is not the entire war.
Sometimes in physical battles it is ok to withdraw and I think the same holds for verbal or mental battles. And by withdrawing you might be showing grace to your opponent and give them your surprising response to think about.

For me, I need to always reset boundaries otherwise my boundaries are always overstepped. If you don’t gently reset the boundaries, you are essentially giving permission to repeat the same overstepping. I think that’s different than choosing battles. I chose battles when raising sons. With adults who repeatedly don’t know or care about their boundaries or anyone else’s, it’s a different matter.

The Bible is full of examples of boundaries, Abraham and Lot, Jacob and Esau, David and Saul, Jesus and the Pharisees. We may not think that they were boundaries but they are and it is a healthy way to live.